For sure, the crockpot is my best kitchen friend. I keep searching for recipes to use during the spring and summer that aren't very stew-ish and seem too much like cold weather. (I don't know why the slow cooker is always used in the winter when it would actually make... Continue reading

Tonight I am, believe it or not, ALONE. Being gifted with only 4 hockey tickets can really be a blessing in disguise, you know!! So at this moment, while the rest of the family are most likely screaming and chanting, and if they're lucky watching Jordin Tootoo beat the living... Continue reading

When every area of my life lacks organization, you may be surprised (or then again, it might not surprise you at all..) to know that I have a very well thought out and planned meal menu. It's flexible, but every two weeks I have a menu and a grocery list... Continue reading

I've made a tiny dent in the yarn stash with some dishcloths and potholders for friends. (I mailed one set off before I thought to take a picture.) Emma also made a couple of dishcloths for our friends. I also finished some washcloths in blue and brown for the bathroom.... Continue reading

On a walk together the morning of Jackson's birthday, I asked him if there was anything that he wanted to do or accomplish in particular this year. "Well, I'd really like to finally see a wood duck." That makes two of us. Continue reading

Didn't mean for this long stretch of nothingness, but it's because 1. We have been doing well and accomplishing much in the schoolwork portion of life. 2. We have been dealing with a lot of "growing up issues" around here that have required a bit of refocus. On everyone's part.... Continue reading

Yeah. That's me. Now I round up to 40. Which is honestly ok. I have little wrinkles on my forehead now and a few gray hairs here and there. And I've earned every single one. I will accept them as my trophies. I have little lines on the sides of... Continue reading

We've been home for a few days now, but here are the pictures of our last couple of days in Seattle. We spent quite a bit of the end of our trip helping Savannah with furnishings for the apartment, or as the check out clerk at IKEA called it, "feathering... Continue reading

Well today might have been the most exciting day ever in my nature world history. (Maybe tied with the dolphins that you guys were so close to at the beach, I don't know..) So you've already heard why, but here's the pictures. And the story... Emma and I spent the... Continue reading

Today we spent the morning walking at the waterfront downtown. We saw where all the cruise ships come in to dock, a few little parks and the Seattle Aquarium. The seagulls here are HUGE. The octopus looks very small here, but it was actually at least the size of Jacob.... Continue reading

We saw the sun today!!! We also, in ONE park mind you, walked through the forest and on the beach. With mountains in the background. This is the Cormorant, boys. There are lots here! This is the bird in The Story of Ping that the fisherman used to fish for... Continue reading

or alternately titled, "finally this blog becomes good for something.." This was all I got before my battery died!! I miss you guys and will show you our pictures here since we are having trouble emailing them!! We are going exploring tomorrow and will hopefully have lots to show you... Continue reading

There was barely time, but we managed to make a couple of early Valentine treats and other fun things before Emma and I are off to spend some time in Seattle. (Forewarning: I snapped the pictures in a hurry and they're not too great but I still wanted to share..) Continue reading

A note to those relatively new to cooking: They are LYING when they tell you that it's really not too bad cooking a turkey. Now, I cook quite a bit. But today I tackled a turkey for the first time. (Phil is the holiday meat-man around here..) It's been in... Continue reading

Ever since we had lunch (and a great day) with our good friends, the Evans, the kids have gone on about how great Mrs. Jenni's bread is. It's homemade bread "that's like REAL bread!!" This is because she has this fantastic pan that shapes the bread into a very long,... Continue reading

Ask Emma and she will tell you the route that they have taken from here to Seattle, the road conditions, the landmarks they have passed, the weather they have encountered, when they hit the time zones changes, the places they have stopped to eat, the sights they have seen along... Continue reading

No pictures or many thoughts today...we're still in recovery mode. Yesterday felt like the longest day of my life, we said goodbye, we talked while they traveled, we sat on the bedside of a broken-hearted girl that cried sobbed herself to sleep. But today we try to pull it together... Continue reading

Tom Hanks said it, so it must be true right? It was a good work day today. Not only good in that I did get lots of work done, but also good in remembering that life is actually going to keep moving ahead in a normal manner. It was good... Continue reading